ESRB Ratings

[lex__luthor]

whats are some games that shouldnt be rated what they are and what games are genarly better E T M AO i go with T and some E's i want your opinion

[Regex]

I like the idea of this thread here..

I recall the story of the "Hot Coffee" mod to one of the GTA games. I feel they shouldn't have treated the modified game as anything worth rating. Also, Elder Scrolls IV, where they change the rating because of another mod allowing "nude" skins. I also believe that shouldn't have been taken into account with the ratings.

I strongly believe in the game ratings. I think they're a great idea, but what should be rated is the game AS IT IS RELEASED. When users modify their game, then the rating should no longer apply.

[TheHumanoidTyphoon]

I think Taking GTA SA off the market was a little unfair..

[-Batman-]

I recall the story of the "Hot Coffee" mod to one of the GTA games. I feel they shouldn't have treated the modified game as anything worth rating.

The hot coffee mode wasn't a mod. It was a mini-game programmed into the game by one of the rockstar north employies who thought it would be funny. it was activated via action replay for the PS2.

[Regex]

The hot coffee mode wasn't a mod. It was a mini-game programmed into the game by one of the rockstar north employies who thought it would be funny. it was activated via action replay for the PS2.

It was written into the game originally, but was made impossible to access. When you use a third party modification to the game to access it (I.e. memory modification, game patches, etc) then you are no longer playing the game as released by Rockstar.

[viewtyjoe]

Eh, games are rated the way they're rated, it's just like movies. Some are rated older than they need, some younger.

[Vash the Flash]

What's the point of the rating system, no one pays attention to it anyway.

[Regex]

What's the point of the rating system, no one pays attention to it anyway.

For parents who want to make sure they get a game appropriate for their kids.

And most retailers actually won't sell an "M" or "AO" game to someone under 17.

[Manhattan_Project_2000]

Most retailers won't sell AO games period.

I felt really weird when I got carded for GTA:SA. Even fully clothed sex included, I've seen FAR worse in an R movie, and I have never gotten carded for buying those (At theaters, yes. But home DVD purchase? No.)

[Kyuubi Naruto]

I think that Shadow the Hedgehog should have been rated T instead of E10+ because of all the cursing and stuff in that game.

[Ami~chan]

Eh, I like the ESRB ratings on some days. It gives people clues as to what is to expect from the game.

Example: A parent wants to buy their six year-old son a video game. They can look at the rating, and know not to buy the game when it's rated M. Otherwise, the parent might pick up a game such as God of War or Bloodrayne 2. Not too wonderful for the six year-olds brain.

But I do get tired of being carded for M games. Why? Mosty because I'm only seventeen, and unable to get them some places. Also, I'm never asked my age when buying an R movie or a book. Tons of books have explicit sex scenes or language, but no one gets carded for those.

[lex__luthor]

kybui naruto is the only one who answered my question thanks

[Music Fiend]

I like the idea of this thread here..

I recall the story of the "Hot Coffee" mod to one of the GTA games. I feel they shouldn't have treated the modified game as anything worth rating. Also, Elder Scrolls IV, where they change the rating because of another mod allowing "nude" skins. I also believe that shouldn't have been taken into account with the ratings.

I strongly believe in the game ratings. I think they're a great idea, but what should be rated is the game AS IT IS RELEASED. When users modify their game, then the rating should no longer apply.

I agree with you. The ESRB gave into political pressure with the whole "hot coffee" mod inccident. Why change a game to "Adult", a good while after it was released, just because some perverted little nerds tried to exploit a mod that wasn't meant to be found? Granted, I blame Rockstar for not making sure that the mod was eliminated from the programming completely, but "Adult"? C'mon now. Even so, I highly respect what the ESRB is doing, in alerting parents about what their kids are playing, with the rating system.

I have no preference to what rating level for games I like to play, but I typically get "T" and "E" games.

[Regex]

Granted, I blame Rockstar for not making sure that the mod was eliminated from the programming completely

Why?
It was a minigame they had originally planned on including in the game. When they decided not to, they removed the ability to access it. If a user comes and changes the game so you can access it, you are no longer playing the same game. If you modify Super Mario Bros so the character models aren't wearing clothes, and change the text to something sexually explicit, this doesn't mean the game rating should change from E to M or AO. Because you had to MODIFY the game for this content to be viewed.

[Music Fiend]

Why?
It was a minigame they had originally planned on including in the game. When they decided not to, they removed the ability to access it. If a user comes and changes the game so you can access it, you are no longer playing the same game. If you modify Super Mario Bros so the character models aren't wearing clothes, and change the text to something sexually explicit, this doesn't mean the game rating should change from E to M or AO. Because you had to MODIFY the game for this content to be viewed.

Still, the "minigame" was still there; unaccessible, but still there. Don't get me wrong, though; unlike many of the opportunistic politicians out there, I blame the people who altered the game and exposed this mod, more than I do Rockstar. It was a stupid thing to do, that much I know is true. Also, I don't believe that the rating should have been changed at all, despite my opinion on the matter.